Epcot – Page 43 – WDWNT Archive

Green Builder Media Giving Away WDW Vacation in Celebration of Epcot’s VISION House

WDWNT on July 17, 2013

In the heart of the Innoventions at Epcot at Walt Disney World, Green Builder Media has collaborated with Walt Disney Imagineers to present the VISION House, an experimental exhibit that showcases the best in green living. This hands-on exhibit enables Epcot guests, adults and children alike, to gain a better understanding of green design, technology, and products by allowing them to explore concepts such as energy efficiency, water conservation, security and durability.

Visitors will learn about sustainable living ideas that they can use at home after their vacation!

If you haven’t seen the VISION House before, you can check out our video of it here:

Green Builder Media is now kicking off its “Made in America” campaign. This campaign celebrates products made in the U.S., as well as manufacturers that support the American economy and keep their operations “green.”

In conjunction with the Made in America campaign, Green Builder Media is giving away a 3-night, 4 day trip to the Walt Disney World Resort to a family of four to visit the Green Builder VISION House at Epcot. This giveaway will enable this lucky family to experience the latest eco-friendly products for themselves!

To enter the Made in America sweepstakes, go to www.greenbuildermag.com/MadeInAmericaGiveaway

Dirk Wallen’s 7/10-12/13 WDW Photo Report

WDWNT on July 17, 2013

WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen visited the Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, and Epcot last week and has a number of newsworthy photos to share with us, so let’s take a look:

Work continues on the Villas at the Grand Floridian as we approach the opening in October

Things are still a bit of a mess right now

Moving to the Magic Kingdom, the post for the Hall of Champions sign is walled

Cinderella’s fountain is still roped off from guests… we think some Brazilian tourists tried to bathe in it…

Still nothing to see over at Princess Fairytale Hall

FastPass+ has been testing a lot at the Magic Kingdom

A look at the Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train construction

A look at the backside along with Triton’s Treasures

This portion where the track makes a wide turn and dives underground looks exciting!

Moving over to Animal Kingdom, work continues on the new Festival of the Lion King theater

The walls now have some themed signage

You can see the crane from various places in Africa

On Kilimanjaro Safaris, the Addax are still in place…

But they are still trying to re-introduce the Zebras

So the Zebras may make a full-time return soon… or not

Work has been completed on the FastPass+ queue at Finding Nemo: the Musical

Heading over to Epcot, another round of turnstile conversions has begun

FountainView is still preparing to be the next Starbucks location in the fall

Walls are still up around what should have been a new food cart months ago…

The FastPAss+ signage is up and running at Journey Into Imagination with Figment

Signs also went up at the Seas with Nemo and Friends

Work continues on Spice Road Table in Morocco

We can see construction going vertical now

Christmas in July! Epcot’s 2013 Candlelight Processional Dinner Packages Now Booking

WDWNT on July 17, 2013

It’s difficult to be thinking about the Holiday Season now, during the heat of the Summer, but the Walt Disney World Resorts are now booking Epcot’s Candlelight Processional Dinner Packages for 11/29/13 – 12/30/13!

The Candlelight Processional show is a stunning reading of the Christmas story, presented by a Celebrity Narrator, accompanied by a choir and a 50-piece orchestra.

These Dinner Packages enable guests to enjoy a meal at a select Epcot restaurant, and then enjoy hassle-free, reserved seating at the Candlelight Processional show and pre-arranged Illuminations fireworks seating.

Participating restaurants for the Candlelight Processional Dinner Packages include: Biergarten Restaurant, Chefs de France, Coral Reef, Garden Grill Restaurant, La Hacienda de San Angel, Nine Dragons Restaurant, Restaurant Marrakesh, Rose & Crown Pub & Dining Room, San Angel Inn, Teppan Edo, Tokyo Dining, Tutto Italia, and Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria.

Included in the Dinner Package: an appetizer, an entrée, a dessert, and a non-alcoholic beverage. Or a full buffet, where applicable.

After dinner, guests get Reserved seating behind the VIP section at the America Gardens Theater. Seating in this Reserved section is on a “first-come, first serve basis,” so guests will still need to plan to arrive 30 minutes prior to the show time.

This year, celebrity readers for the Candlelight Processional include: Ashley Judd, Whoopi Goldberg, Edward James Olmos, Trace Adkins, Blair Underwood, and Amy Grant, to name a few. More celebrity names will be added at a later date.

Each Candlelight Processional Show lasts for approximately 45 minutes. There are three show per night: 5 p.m., 6:45 p.m., and 8:15 p.m. Dinner reservations still need to be made at the participating restaurants ahead of time, even with purchased Dinner Packages, so be sure to call early for seating times.

Here’s a video with previous narrator’s reflections on the Candlelight Processional:

To book your Candlelight Processional Dinner Package, you can call 1(407) WDW-DINE, or go online at www.disney.com to purchase your package and make your dinner reservations.

Have you purchased the Candlelight Processional Dinner Package before? Share impressions below!

Dirk Wallen’s 4/23/13 WDW Photo Report

WDWNT on June 4, 2013

WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen visited Downtown Disney, Epcot, and Animal Kingdom last week and has some newsworthy photos to share with us, so let’s take a look:

The Rainforest Cafe volcano is done

Tons of Marvel stuff in Once Upon a Toy

They also now have the Star Wars Droid Factory

Over at Epcot, work continues on turing Fountain View into a Starbucks location

The old Character Spot is still closed… at this point I’m starting to think it will become Starbucks seating…

Tarps are down at Mission: Space and the facade looks great

Tarps are up where Spice Road Table will be going in Morocco

A temporary stage up for Mo’ Rockin’

The waterfall at Maelstrom is being worked on again for some reason

Moving to Animal Kingdom, the Anandapur Ice Cream truck is gone

Work continues on the new home for Festival of the Lion King in Africa

Dirk Wallen’s 4/25-26/13 WDW Photo Report

WDWNT on June 4, 2013

WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen visited Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios last week and has a ton of newsworthy photos to share with us, so let’s take a look:

The Kodak sign is still up, too bad the waterfall isn’t…

Just imagine it is there

This seating area in Innoventions is now being used as office space as far as we can tell

Segway Central hasn’t changed since closing

Probably should take this down

Monsters University merchandise in Mouse Gear

MU iPhone cases

Scare Pig plush

Art plush

Open edition pin

Kids shirt

Ummmmm….

Graduation Duffy!

AHHHHHH!

Moving to Studios, there is a Monsters University billboard in the parking lot

Kodak letters gone from the Darkroom facade, but are still on the sign

FastPass test for Fantasmic! ongoing

We are in the final days of the old Monsters Inc. meet and greet in the backlot

Soon we will be going back to college…

Monsters University billboard near PIXAR Place

A Lone Ranger billboard up as well

MU banners in the Animation Courtyard

Inside the Magic of Disney Animation, Monsters University artwork has been added

The Gallery exhibit was updated as well

Tom Corless’ 4/16-4/26/13 WDW Photo Report

WDWNT on June 4, 2013

I recently visited the Walt Disney World Resort (just last week) and I have a ton of newsworthy photos to share with you, so let’s take a look at all of the changes happening around the resort right now:

They got a new banner, too bad they only have a few months left…

They added some “blood” red carpet in the queue at the Haunted Mansion… sorry, it’s dark in there

The backside of the Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train appears to closely resemble the rock-work on Under the Sea

After a month, it appears the construction of the third bus loop at the Magic Kingdom is still in the early stages

I see you Grand Floridian Villas…

Over at Animal Kingdom, banners are still up for the 15th anniversary

We can already see posts for a marquee going up where the new Festival of the Lion King entrance will be in Africa

The Anandapur Ice Cream Truck is gone, so you can only get soft-serve at Camp Minnie-Mickey right now

With Planes coming out this August, there are some character planes clothes for kids coming out

I particularly like the Dumbo jumbo jet…

Taking a look at the Villas at the Grand Floridian from the Polynesian Beach

The trademark red roof is starting to appear

Monsters University merchandise can be found everywhere

More Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train construction

A few weeks ago, the Gaston’s mug was updated with new artwork featuring Gaston and LeFou

Sorry for the blurry pic, but you get the idea

More MU stuff in Mouse Gear

Some new Villains watches have come out

Scar and Chernabog

Queen of Hearts and Maleficent

Scar

The Monsters University display recently added some gargoyles despite the fact that the event is ending soon

Some banners describing the film were also put up

Touch-point entry was finally installed at International Gateway

There are now Mickey and Minnie handset phones for mobile phones for sale

Mickey and Minnie mini-speakers for sale

I tired the chili cone queso at Downtown Disney… it’s the same as Cars Land…

The Droid Factory has now opened inside Once Upon a Toy

The four stations really help out with lines

Some new magnets for sale

The Boardwalk Bakery re-opened on Friday at Disney’s Boardwalk

It looks a lot different

You should probably wear a shirt to the bakery…

The expanded kitchen added some pre-made sandwiches to the menu

They also have soup

Mmmmmm

MMMMMMMMMM

FastPass testing for Fantasmic! going on now

The American Idol Experience store now sells Star Wars stuff… Yes…

They added a seafood platter to the menu at the ABC Commissary…. Yum?

The oscars are back at the Magic of Disney Animation from filming for Saving Mr. Banks the last several months

Cool new baseball cap

PHOTOS & VIDEO: The Three Caballeros Return to Epcot for Limited Time Magic

WDWNT on June 4, 2013

For this week’s Limited Time Magic, a number of special entertainment offerings are being offered at the Mexico pavilion at Epcot in celebration of Cinco De Mayo.

They are giving out these awesome autograph cards for the Three Caballeros

Here’s video of the Three Caballeros having fun with guests at their meet and greet:

Tom Corless’ 5/6/13 Epcot Photo Report

WDWNT on June 4, 2013

While visiting Epcot on Monday to see the Three Caballeros, I managed to take pictures of a few other newsworthy items around the park, so lets take a look:

The “toothpick holder” set was updated with a retro Figment shot glass now included

Some new shirts out in Mouse Gear

Work continues on turning FountainView into a Starbucks location

Work is just getting started on Spice Road Table in the Morocco pavilion

The latest Good Luck/Bad Luck pin has Yoda, which is interesting because the set until now has consisted of classic Disney characters

A new retro Journey Into Imagination keychain came out recently

Tom Corless’ 5/8/13 Epcot Photo Report

WDWNT on June 4, 2013

I made a visit to Epcot during the day on Wednesday and found a few newsworthy items around the park, so let’s take a look at what’s new:

The store at the exit of Test Track now has a name: The After Market Shop

I haven’t seen fish like this in a long time at the Seas with Nemo and Friends… it was because it was feeding time

They are growing a Mickey made of hops on Living with the Land

We think it might be for the Food & Wine Festival in the fall

The loading area was modified at Journey Into Imagination this week

The loading area was pushed way back from the loading platform

The Norway waterfall is behind walls again

New, larger restrooms are being constructed at the American Adventure, near where the festival booths are set up each year

Work continues on L’Artisan des Glaces, the France ice cream parlor

A lot of work to be done before the June opening

New Grumpy shirt in Mouse Gear

Dirk Wallen’s 5/13-5/20/13 WDW Photo Report

WDWNT on June 4, 2013

WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen has been all over the Walt Disney World theme parks over the last week and has a ton of newsworthy photos to share with us, so let’s take a look: